How To Find And Hire A Ghostwriter Without Getting Ghosted

"I hired a ghostwriter, and it's been eight years since he started my project."

After twenty minutes on the phone with a prospective author, that was the 100% true nugget he dropped in my lap. I was shocked, to say the least. And then, when he said he'd paid the money all upfront, I was mortified and a little angry.

Angry that after eight years (heck, ONE should be more than enough), the author didn't even have a first draft.

So I wrote this article so that honest folks don't get pulled through the wringer by half-baked writers masquerading as "ghostwriters."

Here's exactly what I'd do if I were wanting to hire a legit ghostwriter.

Go directly to the source.

When looking for a ghostwriter, go directly to the professionals. This can be accomplished by contacting established agencies with rigorous screening processes to filter out non-professional authors.

Also, reach out to the potential ghostwriters you have in mind by checking out their websites or following them on social media accounts. If they are supposedly contracted to work with your book via a ghostwriting agency, validate that they know about your project.

It would not be unusual to find out that the supposed ghostwriter had no links whatsoever with the firm claiming him/her as an employee or contractor and was utterly unaware of the project.

Ask for a Zoom meeting and request samples

Once you've found a few promising candidates, request a Zoom meeting.

At this point, you should gauge the writer's attitude and energy level from their facial expressions and body language. You can protect yourself from being scammed by forged text messages and emails.

To ensure that you're in the safe hands of a genuine ghostwriter, it is also critical to request examples of their prior work. Samples can be verified with their former clients and references to ensure they're the real deal. And not to mention Google!

In a nutshell, don't just take the company's word for it.

Red Flags

Aside from ensuring that your ghostwriter is reputable and reliable, watch for these warning signs that the agency may not be credible:

They offer you a "great deal," or worse, significant discounts

Hard-pressure sales tactics are a turn-off.

After all, this is a passion project that requires the perfect fit. It's not buying a suit or a new sundress at a discount outlet. This is personal and often deeply so.

Don't walk; run away when a website or company offers a discount and uses high-pressure sales tactics to get you to commit right now. If the person or agency truly wants to work with you, they'll take the time to nurture a relationship, not get a credit card over the phone on your first interaction.

Plus, a true blue ghostwriter is likely already pretty busy.

They make big claims

The most successful scammers feature the covers of bestselling books, such as "1500+ books published." They list major publishing houses on their websites to lull you into a false sense of security. Be skeptical. Check their claims, such as by emailing authors who supposedly used the company's services, to confirm they are, in fact, a client.

No names are mentioned

Not just the writers' names but also the agency founders' names.

I like to start at the 'About' page. Is there even one? Are there actual humans who have actual experience writing and publishing? Can you find and read a genesis story about how they got started?

If you can't, then I'd be suspicious.

The legit ghostwriting agencies will have their bios, headshots, and story of why they got into ghostwriting in the first place.

They have wonky payment terms

Look, I'm all about getting my money, and I'm also cognizant of HOW to receive and render payments.

But if a ghostwriter asks for a Venmo or Zelle, I'm gonna get awful suspicious. Think about it for a second. These payment apps are awesome for buying concert tickets or splitting the dinner bill. But if a ghostwriter asks you to use them, likely, they don't have an official business account set up.

Any legit ghostwriting agency will require payment by credit card or, better yet, wire transfer. And you absolutely should receive an invoice with the itemization of deliverables.

Don't feel defeated if you fall prey to a ghostwriting scam. These fraudsters are especially good at what they do, and there are folks who have experienced the same.

The final word

Finding the right ghostwriter for your project requires a bit of effort, but it's worth it.

Make sure you take the time to do some research and ask questions before committing to any agency or writer. Remember that hard-pressure sales tactics are usually a turn-off. Be wary of those who make big claims without backing them up with concrete evidence. Also, watch out for payment terms that seem unusual or suspicious, as they may indicate an illegitimate business.

With these tips in mind, you can feel confident that you'll find the perfect fit to help bring your vision into reality.

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